Any characters
you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing
this for fun. This is rated PG-13 to be safe.
Thanks
once again to my most wonderful beta and sounding board. And
thanks to Luna for hearing and sharing ideas. And for the use of her
very cool character. Hope you all enjoy. If not...Bite Me!
I came awake slowly,
expecting to be in the same place but there was an air of tension around me.
Someone had a death grip on me, arms locked tightly around my waist. I knew it
was Nathaniel. I knew the scent of him, although how I had no idea. I tried to
roll over to face him but he just tightened his grip and shook his head against
my back. Fear was rolling
off him. We were at the Circus. He shouldn't be afraid.
I gently told him, “Nathaniel, I need to move and breathing would be good too.”
“Don't leave me
here.” His voice was soft like a scared child.
”I'm not going to leave you here.” I assured him.
”He said you would.” The leopard wasn’t moving an inch.
”Who said I would?” He just shook his head so I repeated, “I promise I won't leave
you here.” Where ever here is, I added to myself.
He eased the hold on my waist just enough for me to turn and face him. His eyes
were squeezed shut.
”Nathaniel, I need to sit up.” He shook his head again so I told him, “Look at
me.” He opened his eyes and all I could see was confusion and fear. “It's okay.
I won't let anybody hurt you.”
”Don't make promises you can't keep hunter,” A male voice cautioned me.
Nathaniel's eyes squeezed shut again. He buried his face in my neck like he
could hide there. I resisted the urge to nuzzle his cheek. I was definitely off
kilter. I told him not to move and eased out of his arms. He immediately curled
into a ball. Something serious had happened while I was out. That's when I got
a good look around. We were on a ledge with what looked like a deep gorge not
twenty feet in front of us.
”Holy shit. I guess we're not in
”I always did like your sense of humor Nate,” the
mysterious visitor told me. Why did that voice sound so familiar?
”Show yourself you coward,” I growled.
”Are you sure you're ready?” He taunted.
”I'm always ready.” I boasted despite my unease.
The stranger chuckled. “True. Another trait I always liked about you. But what
will the women along the Esplanade think about your new life?”
”Come on out you bastard! You can't be that ugly!” I shouted.
I heard a whimper and a gasp behind me. Turning, I found Nathaniel with a knife
to his throat but it was who was holding the knife that floored me.
”Sonuvabitch! What are you playing at Nick?” I asked
the young man.
**********
Back at the Circus
Jean Claude, after seeing the flash and the two men vanish from the infirmary,
immediately thought of Asher. He left the security room in great haste and
rushed down the halls to his second’s suites. He opened the doors to find the
room empty. He searched the rest of the suite, to no avail. Asher and Luna were
gone as well. It is what he had feared but until this moment he never realized
just how connected the three were. He was so lost in thought that he didn't
hear Anita walk into the room.
Sensing his
distraction she called his name softly as she walked over and slipped her arms
around his waist. “Jean Claude?” Getting no reaction she walked around so that
she could see his face. His expression was that of a lost little boy. It was
not encouraging. “Jean Claude, what is it? What's wrong?”
”They are gone as well.” He murmured.
”Who is gone?”
He looked down at
her then, her brown eyes filled with concern. “Asher. He and Luna have
disappeared, just as the other two.”
The woman shook her head in confusion. “Which other two?
You aren't making sense.”
The Master grimaced. “Your leopard and the hunter are gone as well, Ma Petite.”
***********
Back on the Ledge
My old friend stared at me for a second or two. He then laughed, shoved
Nathaniel into me and over the edge we
went. It felt like we fell forever but we had to hit bottom sometime. We hit
hard. Neither one of us moved for a moment. I wasn't sure we were still alive,
until hands reached out to help us to our feet. Nathaniel practically jumped
into Luna's arms. He would have crawled inside if he could. Asher just stared
at me. Well hell. Nathaniel wasn't the only
one confused.
”Where are we?” Luna asked.
I shrugged. “Not a clue but where ever it is the laws of physics don't apply.”
Looking upward I explained, “We should be dead.”
”I'm glad we're not.”
I turned to
Nathaniel at his voice, “What else did he say to you?”
The cat frowned. “He said you were all going away and I would be by myself.”
”We would never leave you Nathaniel.” Asher assured him.
”I know.” He nodded. “I just... he was in my head.”
”Who was?” the princess asked her pardmate.
”The guy with the weird eyes,” he told her.
I was confused. “Nick was wearing glasses.”
”Nick is dead.” A new voice said near me.
We all turned as a unit toward the familiar voice of Acheron. He was wearing blue jeans and a black
windbreaker. The shades were in place as usual. His hair was jet black.
I shook my head at my boss. “Nope he was alive and kicking and pissy too. I mean he
did shove me and Nathaniel off a ledge.”
The big guy’s face was cold. “I'm telling you it wasn't Nick. It couldn't have
been.”
”And I'm fuckin' tellin' you
it was Nick! I was around him enough.” I bit out.
He closed the
distance between us. “And I'm telling you it couldn't have been.” His voice was
low and menacing.
Luna interrupted at that point. “This is getting us nowhere. Where are we and
who brought us here?”
The ancient turned
his head slightly to look at her. “You're on Skotos and
I brought you here.”
”You want to give us nightmares?” Nathaniel asked him.
”Why would I give you nightmares,” Acheron asked.
The male cat looked a bit confused at the question. “That's what this place is
all about. Isn't it?”
Asher asked, “Why have you brought us here? Explain yourself or send us back.”
The big guy turned to the vampire. “A little testy are we?”
I had to snicker but
the Princess added, “He has a point. Why are we here?”
My boss sighed. “Not that I need to explain myself to you, I needed to make sure
that my hunter was all right.” Well that shocked me so much I barely heard him
add, “I would like to talk to him in private.”
”And where do you suggest we go,” the vampire asked him.
”I believe I can offer a distraction.” Mist appeared to our right wearing a
deep blue silk dress that seemed to
flow around her as she walked toward us. Her black hair was tied back. I found
myself gazing into those glowing eyes.
”Ah Lady Mist.” Asher took her hand and raised it to his lips, laying a gentle
kiss there.
She smiled. “Asher. It is wonderful to
see you.” She glanced at the rest of us. “It is good to see you all.”
My boss turned to her. “Mist will you keep them occupied while Nathan and I
have a little chat?”
”Of course Acheron,” she nodded.
The male cat asked the ancient. “You aren't going to hurt him are you?”
Mist assured him. “Don't worry so Nathaniel. Acheron will not harm Nathan.”
Nathaniel didn't look so sure but I told him to go ahead and let Mist show him
around. Luna just shook her head, but didn't get a chance to protest before she
disappeared.
I turned to the big guy. “So what's this little meeting all about? Am I in
trouble again?”
”You're always in trouble.” I rolled my eyes as he added, “Your bio readings have
gone haywire lately.”
”What? You have a probe up my butt or something?” The big guy just sighed. “Oh
come on that was funny… Unless of course
it's true, then I'm going to hurt you.”
He shook his head. “You wouldn't be the first or last to try but I would advise
against it. Have you felt any changes?”
I thought about it for
a moment. Then I got this image of Asher, Luna and Nathaniel walking along white
sand beaches. Even though it was an illusion of an island, Asher was smiling
and enjoying the feel of the sun. I grinned as Nathaniel pulled Luna into the
water.
“What's so funny,”
the boss asked.
”Asher is feeling the sun on his face for the first time in centuries. There's so much happiness.” I explained.
”You can feel what he feels?”
I nodded. “I can
feel him. Luna. It's like my senses have been tuned to the max. I share their
dreams. I know when they're near.”
”What else?”
”He knows when I'm hurt or angry. It's weird. Anyway, what did you want to talk
to me about?” I turned face Acheron.
”Maybe I should petition the Pantheon to bring you back. I could reassign you to
”I thought because my family was there I couldn't be assigned there.”
”This is a special circumstance,” he told me.
”No thanks.” I shook my head.
”You'll go where you're assigned.”
“I was sent here for
a reason I was told. Has that reason been fulfilled,” I enquired.
He sighed. “Not yet but you're getting too close to the people here.”
”Oh God forbid that I have friends but then you could just wipe my memory about
them. Right? You've done it before.”
The big guy’s face was blank. “I don't want you to be caught by surprise if the
truce fails.”
”I won't. Roan and I work well together. It's Irish I don't get along with but
I'm trying to avoid him as much as
possible.”
”You should stay away from the kattagari, Luna.”
Acheron told me.
”The Princess and I are just friends but I won't let him use her. I won't let
him hurt her.”
The big guy sighed. ”He hasn't tried to hurt her.”
”Words can hurt just as much as a physical blow. You know that.”
”He knows that from experience. Don't you brother?” Stryker told me. He
appeared to our left about ten feet away. At first glance he would appear to
any mortal as a leather-clad biker.
Acheron went very
still. Stryker closed the distance nonchalantly. I stepped in front of the big
guy knowing full well I was no match for the Apollite.
The newcomer
laughed. “Another fool ready to die for you Acheron.
I'm amazed but then they don't really know the real you. Do they? Like the pup
here could satisfy my hunger… But the
three souls he brought with him would make a fine feast.”
”Bad thinking man. I may not be able to kill your ass,
but I can hurt you.” I started at the bastard, but Acheron grabbed
me by the collar.
”What do you want here Stryker?” He asked the Apollite.
He smiled. “Not that I have to answer to you but I need time away too. I have wonderful fantasies. You should try to loosen up once in awhile.”
My boss told him, “You know one of my fantasies Stryker ... your head on a platter.”
Stryker feigned hurt right before he threw a bolt the big guy’s way. Being the
fool I was, I stepped in front of him.
Acheron pushed me aside and the two went toe to toe, until Stryker got
this weird look on his face like a dog that catches a sound. He actually cocked
his head a bit. He blew Acheron a kiss and disappeared.
I shook my head. “You know, I think I'm in more danger from the gods than from the
Daimons.”
”He could have killed you.”
I just shrugged. “What
was so important that you brought us here?”
”I want you to sever your ties to the District.”
I just stared at him. When he didn’t add anything I asked,
“Or what? Are you going to brand me a rogue? Take my head? Lose my soul?
Or are you just going to send the Alexion after me? Look
Acheron, I'm pretty much on my own. No squire. No backup except Roan. Now I
have friends and allies and you don't like it? Fuck you. Be glad I can't hurt
you.”
I was suddenly on the beach with Mist and the others.
”You shouldn't push Acheron.” Mist warned me.
I fought the urge to growl at her. “He shouldn't piss me off. Can you send us back?”
My little group
gathered around me.
Mist sighed. “Nathan, be careful. The truce is shaky at best. Stryker would love
getting a foot hold in another world.”
“I'll do my best. Roan
and I work well together.” I assured her.
She nodded. “I will return you then.”
Asher turned to her. “Thank you Mist, for allowing this.”
She smiled at him. “Anytime you would like to see the sun Asher, just call me.”
He kissed her hand before she turned to the others. “Luna, as Oya, you possess great strength. Use it wisely and
Nathaniel. You are a special soul. I will send you all wonderful dreams.”
With that we were back in the real world. I was right back in the middle of the
infirmary but this time I wasn't alone. My three time travelers were with me.
”Are we home?” Nathaniel asked.
Our vampire companion nodded. “I do believe we are but do they know we were
even gone?”
The Princess scoffed. “Oh I can lay odds on that. I'm sure Jean and Maggie
knew.”
Asher nodded. “You are right of course.” He turned to me. “You are very quiet, Moi, chasseur obscurite.”
”I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” I told him.
A female voice broke the silence. “The wait is over.”
We all turned toward the door. Anita Blake stood there with a gun pointed in
our direction, more at me really. Asher took my arm and pulled me behind him.
Anita hissed at him. “Asher what the hell?”
Micah walked in to
stand beside her.
”Anita, you can't. I won't let you hurt him,” Nathaniel added.
”Nathaniel, come over here.” Anita told him.
He shook his head. “No.”
”No?” The woman with the gun asked.
Luna told her, “That sounded like no to me.”
Micah sighed. “Anita, put the gun down. This isn't any way to solve anything.”
She looked shocked as she lowered her hand. “You taking
his side?”
”I am Nimir Raj. I protect
all pard members,” he explained.
She shook her head. “Luna and Nathaniel don't need protecting.”
”Nathan does.” He walked over to stand beside us.
Anita looked at her boyfriend. “What did you just say?”
He stayed where he was. “I said I protect all pard
members.”
She hissed at him. “He kidnapped two of our pard as
well as Jean Claude's second and you're protecting him?”
”He didn't kidnap us.” Nathaniel told her.
Luna added, “Anita we were only gone a few hours. It's no big deal.”
”You were gone over two weeks! I'd call that a big deal! Where were you?” Her
female leader demanded.
The lilac eyed cat was quick to answer. “We were on Skotos!
It was so cool. Asher got to walk in the sun. On the beach!”
Asher chuckled at
the leopard's excited description.
”I'm glad you find this so amusing Asher.” The Nimir-Ra
scolded him.
He grinned at her. “It was epitant.*”
Jean Claude appeared in the doorway. “Asher! Mon Ami! I was worried.” He
crossed the room and embraced his old friend.
His second nodded. “So was I at first. It is good to be back.” Jean Claude
stepped back and gazed at his friend. “Have I grown a second head?”
The Master shook his head. “Non. But you do seem to
have more color to your cheeks. You are smiling.”
”I am happy, Mon Ami. Be happy for me.” The golden haired vampire told his
friend.
”Maybe the dream world is more...” Luna started to speculate.
”Are you saying we dreamed all this?” Anita asked.
Her bodyguard shook her head. “No. It was very real to us but we didn't know
about the time difference. It felt different for us. Like only a few hours.”
The Master of the City looked at me questioningly. “You are very quiet.”
I looked past him to
Ms. Blake. “I think I'd better be. Don't you?”
He sighed. “Ma Petite will not harm you.”
His Petite shook her head, her black hair flying. “Don't put words in my mouth
Jean Claude. You're all rallying around him like he's the second coming. He's
the problem.”
Nathaniel told her, “You just don't want to take the time to listen, to get to know
him. If you would just give him a
chance...”
The Nimir-Ra growled. “Am I the only sane one here? Can't
you all see the threat he poses?”
”Maybe you're right Ms. Blake. I'm only driving a wedge in between you all.” I
stepped around Asher and the others. “I'll go. Mist?” I
flashed out of the room.
”How could you do that? He's my friend.” The usually submissive cat advanced on
his Nimir-Ra, his long hair dancing as he moved. “It's
always about you, about what you want.”
”Nathaniel. Stop.” Micah
warned him.
”What about us?” He asked as he stopped in front of
her just out of reach. A low growl escaped his lips. Anita reached out to the
leopard, but he moved around her and out the door. There were several moments of
awkward silence before Luna left to see about her pard
mate.
I spent the next few days getting ready to go back to work. My head was filled with thoughts of my
friends. I hadn't realized how much a part of my life they had become. I could
still sense Asher as well as Luna and now for some strange reason Micah as
well. Maybe Acheron should wipe my memory and erase me from theirs as well.
I tried to stay away. I really did. But one night at work, I got a visit from someone I never
would have guessed, not in a million years. I had just cued up a mix of songs
and ads. It was enough to give me time to run to the bathroom and grab a soda.
I rushed out of the studio and right smack into the mayor himself and Blake
wasn't with him. To say I was shocked was an understatement.
I stared at him. “How
can I help you Mayor McCheese?”
He sighed. “Can you not call me by my given name?”
”Okay. How can I help you Jean Claude?”
”I would like to talk to you about Asher,” he confided.
”Go in there and have a seat. I'll be right back.” I opened the door for him. “Don't
touch anything.”
He gave me a look but entered the room. I ran down to the bathroom and to the
lounge. I got back just as the last song was playing and the mayor was talking
on the phone.
I just shook my head
and pulled the mike down as I pulled the headphones on. “This is 93X, if there
is anything you'd like to hear give me a holler. As for the
little twerp that keeps calling and hanging up... I have caller id. I
know where you are. Here's 30 Seconds To
Mars. The Kill.”
With that I pulled the headphones down around my neck and turned to the vampire.
He handed me a piece of paper. It had Violent Femmes and the name April on it.
I set it down then asked him, “So what about Asher? I thought you and Blake
would be happy I wasn't around.”
He frowned. “Asher is very... morose. He misses you. He enjoys your companionship. I would like to call a truce.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “And what does Blake think about all this?”
”I am the master of this city, not Anita. I want Asher to be happy. You make
him so. I do not know if it is
because of your blood or that he genuinely feels affection for you. But there
is a great amount of power that
the three of you share.”
”You know, if you hadn't of sicked the doggie king on
me... Oh, what the hell. Okay truce.” I offered my hand.
He took it. “Maybe
one day I may get to taste you as well.”
With that said, he left. Damnation. I
did miss Asher and Luna. I missed just hanging out with Nathaniel. So a truce
it was, at least until Blake found out.
I took a few more requests and then I slipped one of my favorites in.
Going live I told the listeners, “Okay, I got a request for some Violent Femmes
from April. Got P.O.D. , Disturbed, Shinedown, My Chemical Romance too, but first a favorite of
mine. This is Blue October. The song is called
I sat back drinking my coke and thinking about the mayor's truce. It may prove
to be an interesting year.
********
* French meaning “Wonderful”